Home repairs a ‘godsend’ for Hendersonville family

Paul and Jennie Lewis’ Hendersonville home will soon get a makeover thanks to Habitat for Humanity of Sumner County and several local volunteers.
(Photo: Tena Lee/The Hendersonville Star News)

Story Highlights

A ground-breaking ceremony will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, July 19 at the Lewis home, 118 Woodridge Drive.

A dedication ceremony for the completion of the project is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 11.

Anyone interested in helping with this project may contact Johnson at susan@habitatsumnercounty.org or 452-9606.

While many are familiar with Habitat for Humanity’s mission of helping families realize the dream of home ownership, the group’s Sumner County chapter is helping one local family make some much-needed repairs to their home.

Paul and Jennie Lewis have called the three-bedroom, ranch-style house on Woodridge Drive home since 1976.

A U.S. Army medic during the Vietnam War, Paul retired in 2009 after working as a respiratory therapist for 40 years at two Nashville-area hospitals. Jennie is a retired nurse and former Hendersonville Homebound Meals employee. The two have also been busy raising and caring for their two sons with disabilities, Brian, 37 and Kevin, 41.

Over time their home has needed some upgrades the family can’t afford — like a bathroom that is handicap accessible, a structurally sound carport, a wheelchair ramp, and a new heating unit in the living room.

When the Lewis’ plight was brought to the attention of Habitat for Humanity of Sumner County Executive Director Susan Johnson, she knew the group had to help.

According to Johnson, the Christian nonprofit group strives to eliminate substandard housing for low income families. Its Critical Home Repair Program provides needed repairs for low-income families who own their own homes.

This is the second home repair project since Habitat for Humanity of Sumner County’s inception 20 years ago. (The first was in Millersville in 2013).

Johnson said it’s also Habitat’s first project in Hendersonville since 1997 when a new home was built.

That doesn’t mean, however, the need isn’t there.

“There is a real need. There are people living in apartments in Hendersonville who can’t afford living in those apartments,” she said. “There are families who would qualify for a Habitat home in Hendersonville.”

Johnson said that although the nonprofit continues to grow and expand, it still can’t afford to buy property in Hendersonville.

“The same lots in Gallatin are 40 to 50 percent higher in Hendersonville,” she said. “We’d either have to have someone donate (the land) or sell to us well below the market value.”

Support strong in Hendersonville

Although the nonprofit has done few projects within the city’s limits, Johnson said many in the community support the group’s efforts — from board members to volunteers.

Local groups already on board to help with the Lewis’ home include VFW Post 9851, Vietnam Veterans of Sumner County and Pinnacle Financial Partners, where Kevin Lewis has worked for the last five years.

Johnson hopes more volunteers will help with the project, and said there is a particular need to fill some specialty positions including a paving contractor, concrete worker, electrician and plumber.

“We would save ourselves a lot of money if some of these people came forward,” said Johnson, who estimates repairs will cost around $20,000.

She added the program requires participants to contribute to the project with “sweat-equity” hours and that the family will be required to pay back a portion of the project costs with no interest.

“It’s the philosophy (that) they are partners with us,” Johnson said. “We don’t just give it away.”

The Lewises say that’s OK with them.

“Whatever they need me to do, I’ll do it,” said Paul Lewis. “If we had to do all of this on our own, we wouldn’t be able to afford it. It’s a godsend.”

Reach Tena Lee at 615-575-7116 or follow on Twitter @tenalee1.

To help

Habitat for Humanity is still looking for skilled volunteers or bids for framing, paving, minor electrical, concrete work, plumbing, and gutter installation. The group is also recruiting sponsorships to support project costs. Anyone interested in helping with this project may contact Susan Johnson at susan@habitatsumnercounty.org or 452-9606.

If you go

A ground-breaking ceremony will be held 11:30 a.m. Saturday, July 19 at the Lewis home, 118 Woodridge Drive. A dedication ceremony for the completion of the project is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 11.